The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The main objects of the charity are to advance education in the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom through the provision of scholarships to students and the making of donations to educational establishments.
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission.
As a result of the grant making activities of the Charity, 22,794 specialist students, 10,288 undergraduate students, 7,698 graduate and 995 postgraduate students at Russian Universities were in the period 2005- 2021 awarded monthly scholarships of approximately USD110 (192 for students at Higher School of Economics) (using an average dollar rate of USD1=RUR52).
Further, the Charity, during the period 2005-2021, sponsored 43 summer and winter schools and provided English language humanities libraries to 20 Russian Universities.
In addition, during 2019-2021, 30 graduate scholarships at USD 4,834 each and 26 fellowships at approximately USD 14,772 each were awarded by the Charity.
The Scholarships were awarded on merit and were designed to encourage the study of the humanities in Russian State Universities.
The grant giving activity of the Charity in Russia has ceased on account of the inclusion by the Russian Ministry of Justice of the Charity in the list of undesirable organizations (Order No. 732-r dated 9th July 2021, the list number 38) pursuant to the Federal Law of 28.12.2012 No 272 -FZ (as amended by the Federal Law of 23.5.2015 N 129-FZ (the “Undesirable Organizations Law”).
The results of the charity in the year are set out in the Statement of Financial Activities.
As at 31 December 2022 free reserves (represented by unrestricted funds) were $70,455.
The Charity is unable, for the time being, to support education in Russia (for which purpose the Charity is funded by the Khodorkovsky Foundation) in view of the inclusion of the Charity in the list of undesirable organizations pursuant to the Undesirable Organizations Law.
The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The charity is managed by its Board of trustees.
The Khodorkovsky Foundation, a charity with trustees in common, provides the vast majority of Oxford Russia Fund's income.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
New trustees are inducted in to their role as trustees in a series of briefings on the work of the charity. The Trustees have been selected from their skills and professionalism and come with many years of experience in different walks of life and additional training is provided.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Donations and grants
Interest
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Oxford Russia Fund is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is TGW Law, 4 Hill Street, London, W1J 5NE.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association. the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”), the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019) and the Companies Act 2006. The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in US dollars, which is the functional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest $.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. There are no material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and gross of any related income. They are classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Charitable expenditure comprises direct expenditure including grants. Where costs cannot be directly attributed, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Expenditure on grants is recorded once the commitment to pay the grant has been agreed with the beneficiary. If there is a multi-year grant agreement where the Fund has the rights to terminate the agreement, only the current year’s grant is included in expenditure.
Any support costs specific to one of the activities is allocated wholly to that activity. The remaining support costs are allocated to that activity in proportion to the combined costs of activities undertaken directly and grants.
Governance costs include those costs, such as Auditors’ fees, associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Transaction in foreign currencies is recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
Donations and grants
To advance education
Russian Scholar- ships
English Literature Seminars / Library Project
Grant Funding of Activities
Representative office costs
Other
A Smith was remunerated at the rate of £10,000 p.a. until 30th September 2021 for his capacity as an ambassador for the charity.
None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the Charity during the year.
The average monthly number of employees (including those in Russia) during the year was:
A Tulloch and R Caldecott are also the Trustees of the Khodorkovsky Foundation. The Khodorkovsky Foundation made grants to Oxford Russia Fund of $8,634 (2021: $251,186) during the year.